Smarty Jones arrives at his new Kentucky home
MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press Writer
Monday, August 16, 2004
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(08-16) 07:16 PDT MIDWAY, Ky. (AP) --
As the fog still hung above the rolling fields on an unseasonably cool morning, Smarty Jones took his first look at his new Kentucky home.
The popular thoroughbred arrived Monday morning at Three Chimneys Farm, where he will stand at stud.
"He was one of the special race horses of our time," said farm owner Robert Clay, who flew in from New York to see Smarty's arrival. "This is a special day."
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner left his home state of Pennsylvania last night, a day after he was honored during a farewell appearance at Philadelphia Park. His owners, Roy and Pat Chapman, retired the 3-year-old colt two weeks ago after he was diagnosed with chronic bruising in all four hooves.
Smarty Jones missed winning the Triple Crown by one length, falling to Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes on June 5, a race that proved to be Smarty's last.
Twenty-seven people -- most of them farm employees -- watched as Smarty exited the van at Three Chimneys around 8 a.m., led by his new groom, Ruben Ramos. Smarty walked into the courtyard between the farm's stallion barns and quickly nipped a sampling of bluegrass.
Fifteen minutes later, he entered his stall -- once occupied by 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew -- and it didn't take long for him to roll around in the hay.
His new neighbors -- fellow stallions Silver Charm, Albert the Great, Sky Mesa, Point Given and War Chant -- perked up and took notice as Smarty entered the building.
Three Chimneys offers tours by appointment four days a week, and Clay figures he'll need to add extra parking to accommodate Smarty's fans.
"I don't think it will take long for people to come out to see him," Clay said. "This came earlier than we expected, so we're not quite geared up yet. But we will gear up."
The first such visitor -- Murray West, a doctor from nearby Paris -- got up at 5 a.m. and brought two cameras with him Monday morning to capture the moment of Smarty's arrival.
"Every now and then, a horse comes along that captures the public. He's one," West said. "He had a special gift."
Three Chimneys' stallion manager, Sandy Hatfield, had not seen Smarty Jones before his arrival.
"He's a nice, quiet horse. It looks like he'll be easy to get along with," Hatfield said after watching Smarty for a few minutes. "He's got a nice, kind eye. You can tell a lot about them when you look in their eyes."
Hatfield said Smarty would be put in the farm's round pen later Monday and could be out in the fields as early as Tuesday.
In nine career starts, Smarty Jones won eight races and earned $7,563,535, including a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park for victories in the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby. The Chapmans recently syndicated the horse for about $48 million, but maintained half-ownership.
Clay said the horse will have the next four months off. Smarty will begin test breeding in December and start his stallion duties Feb. 15, he said.
Clay said he will determine Smarty's stud fee, in consultation with the Chapmans, by Sept. 1. Smarty will only be bred to 110 mares per year, according to the farm's contract with the Chapmans.
